Hydraulic log barker with selflubricating sealing means



Feb. 20, A1951 F. H. swn-T Er Al. 2,542,371

HYDRAULIC Los BARKER WITH SELF LUBRICATNG SEALING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1946 INVENTORS Feb. 20, 1951 SW1P-r ET Al. 2,542,371 HYDRAULIC Los BARKER WITH SELF LUBRICATING SEALING MEANS F11-'ed April 8, 1946 v4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToRS FQA/v/f/.v 5 w//fr 60V @000s 0N ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1951 F. H. swlFT Er AL. 2,542,371

HYDRAULIC LOG BARKER WITH SELF y LUBRICATING SEALING MEANS Filed April 8, 194e 4 sheets-sheet s,

INVENTORS F/QA/VKH 5 w/Fr 60)/ D005 o/v ATT RNEY Y O E s e V T .Q .m mr T 5, W FN 7M 2 m WO s am 4 HO 5 3 MD m 6 ,f A@ r FU 5 l G F. H. swn-T ET AL HYDRAULIC LOG BARKER WITH SELF LUBRIGATING SEALING MEANS Feb, 2o, 1951 Filed April 8, 1946 Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATE-NT y OFFICE HYDRAULIC'LOG BAKKER WITH SELF;A LUBRICATING SEALING MEANS Frank' H. Swift and- Guy R. Dodson, Portland,

Gregg assignorsto Crown Zellerbach Corpora-'f' tion, San Francisco, Calif., a' corporation of Neva da Application April 8, 1946, S'erialuNo. 660,458A

4 Claims.

This inventionrelate's'to hydraulic logA barkers.

In connection with the' preparation of Wood in rough log form it is' oftenA desirable," as,A forexample, in the reduction of the wood'V to pulp for use by the paper' industry, to remove the bark. The application of a jet' of water under high' pressureto `the surface'tobe'debarked has proven' very effective and apparatus for' carrying out thisv operation is now ink general use in several dilierent specific forms.' In such apparatus" the j'et isY directed against each part of the' log'sur'- face` from' which bark is to be removed and it is therefore desirable that the log beingV treated and the nozzle which forms and directs the jet'V be relatively movable for practicaloperation.

Various machines have Vbeen' designed in which such relative movement is accomplished either by movement ofthe log or the jet or' both. In

some cases, the log is rotated-asby al lathe while" the jet moves longitudinally to follow the spiral pathon the log surface which is the `component of the rotary and longitudinal motions. In other cases `the log is rotated step by step andthe jet'- is moved lengthwise to remove straightareas of bark from endto end of the log during' the intervals betweenl its' intermittent rotatingmovement. These; as well as other methodswhich have been employed in an' endeavor to subject the entire' surface of the `log to? the'actio'n of the jet,.have been found lacking in` speedA and elli?- ciency because of the' time required to set-up' each log to be treated. Such methods are also undesirable because logs are not of uniform? size and shape and are thereforenot readily adapt-- able to' handling by machinery in which they must be gripped and` turned. Many logs have broken, rotted, or. otherwise non-uniform ends making them unsuitable for mounting in' a handling device of the lathe type, and in someca'ses" it is necessary to debark logs, halflogs; quarters, slabs and other shapes all in the same machine.`

The most practical form of debark'ing can be accomplished by a so-called ring type machine, such as i's disclosed in the patent to Frank H. Swift, No. 2,422,757, issued June 24, 1947, entitled Hydraulic Barker.

Such a machine includes a nozzle traveling in a circular' path to' directla'r jet radially inwardly. Any log or log section p passing through the circle described by'the nozzle is therefore subjected throughout its entire sur'- face to the eiiect of the jet' even though the logitself is not turned or rotated. This type of machine lends itself quite readily to' use with conventional mill operations Where logs are mov-Y ing in end4 to end` relationship as onconveyors.

sucii ai 11nedr' string' of logs' may bedirected through a ring" type barker Without stopping and vl'i'tl'lolit"'reg''ardv t6 differences their length,

shape and th'e' other individual characteristics'V which' must beconsidered' in chucking or setting" up logsin other' ty'p'es of barking machines.'

The' eonstructio'nof' a' ring' type machine of the'ki'ri'd" Herein' referred to' however has' neretofore provided problems' arisin'gprincipally because of' it'sg're'at' size and the' high uid pressure" which it" Irl'ust be" Capable' f withstanding'.

the"barking"jet must' describe an annular path having' a diameter' of at'least thirty-six'inclies'.

This" requires annular' hoop-'like' members" of hollowconstruction capable of withstanding:internalp'res'suresrin' the order of a thousand or ffteen hundred' pounds' per square inch. It als'orequire'such members to' be relatively'rotat-- able so that some` form of packing or sealing means must be` provided between them for permitting rotation without' material loss of the liquid under pressurel which they contain and direct' toward the nozzle; It` has been found' that conventional sealingY means are impractical for this purpose because they depend uponlpressu're` to` create effectiveseals and the pressure` required is so great' that'thels'ea'ling means' ac't as'a brake`which'preventsby` friction the rela-V tive rotato'n'of the-parts between which the seal isprovided.

Itis, therefore, an object of the present nvention toprovide'a hydraulic log barker oi the ring type in Which'large, relatively movable pressure sustaining parts-are designed' and connected by sealing meansfwhich overcome the diiculties' heretofore encountered in' machines-'of this character.

Another object of the present invention is toA provide amethodof sealing and a' seal for use in` hydraulic` log barking machines which may be lubricated by the same water that is employed for barking purposes and which includes means for' accurately adjusting the quantity of water employed for lubrication.

Further and more specific objects and advantages of the inventionY are made apparent in. the` following speoication in which reference is made tothe accompanying'drawings for a disclosure of the invention in one 'of its preferred forms.v

Inl the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of ya hydraulic log barkingl machine emb'odyingl the present invention-andlillustrated with parts Vbroken away andv parts shown in section to disclose structural details;

lng. 2 is a similar view in rear elevation of the same machine;

lug. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectionai view taken on the line lll-III of rig. 1;

big. 4 1s an enlarged view of a portion of the sealing means shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional View comparable to the section shown in Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified form of the invention. v

The log barking machine which is generally illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is of substantially annular construction so that it provides a central open space through which logs may be passed in the direction of their length. Any conventional log handling equipment, such as conveyers or skids, not shown, may be empioyed .for advancing the logs through the machine. Such equipment, whatever form it may assume, preferably does not extend through the opening of the machine as it is desirable that the entire periphery of the log be exposed to the action of water jets which are directed against it by revolving nozzles, shown at Iii in Fig. 2 of the drawings, as the log passes through the central opening of the machine.

The entire machine may be supported on any convenient horizontal surface by a base I I which in turn supports a vertically extending rigid annular frame member I2 herein illustrated as formed integrally with the base casting. A stationary circularmanifold I3 is carried by the annular frame I2 and is supported with relation thereto by means of a plurality of cap screws IA which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, extend through brackets I5 extended radially inwardly from the frame I2. Cap screws Ill are received in tapped holes, not shown, formed in the face of the manifold I3. A rotatable manifold I6, also generally annular in shape, circumscribes the stationary manifold I3 and carries the nozzles II) which direct jets of water radially inwardly and onto the surface of a log passing through the machine. An inlet pipe Il best shown in Fig. 1 communi- Cates with the hollow interior of the stationary manifold I3 and is provided with a flange I8 at its outer end'by means of which it may be connected with a conduit, not shown, for communication with a source of water under high pressure. The stationary manifold I3 has a plurality of circumferentially arranged outwardly directed ports I2V and the rotatable manifold I6 has corresponding ports 2i] which are directed radially inwardly and which are formed in a relatively narrow inwardly disposed annular portion 2I. The manifolds are assembled with the ports I9 and ZI] in alignment so that water under pressure directed to the interior of the stationary mani-Y fold I3 is readily communicated to the rotating manifold during its rotation. From the interior of the rotating manifold, the water under pressure is directed through integrally formed hollow arms 22 which support and communicate with the nozzles IIJ. While there are two arms 22 and two nozzles IIB herein illustrated as disposed at diametrically opposite portions of the rotatable manifold, it should be understood that a single such nozzle would be operable for the purpose described, though two or even more nozzles equally spaced throughout theperiphery of the rotatable manifold are preferable as, with a greater number of nozzles, the force of the jets which they produce has less tendency to displace the log from its path of movement through the machine. Furthermore, with the greater number of nozzles the log may be advanced more rapidly through the machine with assurance that its entire surface is subjected to the influence of the high pressure jets.

Each of the nozzles is a tubular and preferably tapered structure which may be secured to the end of its supporting Varm V22 as by cap screws illustrated at 23. The nozzle opening may conveniently be a row of small orifices 24 aligned in a plate 25 secured as by screws 26 to the end of the nozzle. As best illustrated in Fig. 3, the nozzle ends may support an annular guard plate 2'I which is aligned with a similar plate 28 secured to and supported by the stationary manifold I3. The annular guards 2l and 28 are of substantially the same internal diameter as the manifold I3 and cooperate therewith in defining the passage through which the logs move as they are subjected to the action of the debarking jets.

The rotatable manifold I6 is supported by a plurality of rollers 30, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as three in number. The outer surface of the rotatable manifold is machined to form spaced tracks 3| and an intermediate ring gear 32. The rollers 30 are centrally grooved as shown at 33 to clear the ring gear 32 as they support the manifold by engagement with its tracks 3|. Any suitable means may be employed'for driving the manifold I6. For example, a spur gear IML-rotated by motive power, not shown, meshes with the ring gear 32 to impart rotary motion to the manifold I6 thereby causing the nozzles I0 supported by it to revolve about the central open portion of the machine through which the logs are passed. Each of the rollers 33 is supported for rotation on a shaft 35 by suitable anti-friction bearings, not shown, and the shafts 35 are supported in brackets 33 which are adjustably secured to the main frame I2. In Figs. l and 2, the adjustableV connection between the roller brackets 36 and the main frame is shown as a plurality of cap screws 31 which pass through elongated openings 38 (see Fig-.73) in the brackets for clamping the brackets tothe face of the frame I2.v Adjusting screws 39 (in Fig. 2) may be employed to vary the positions of the brackets before the cap screws 31 are tightened and set screws 40 V(Fig. 1) Vwhich bear against the frame I2 may also be employed for denitely fixing the position `of the rollers before theV brackets `are rmly secured by tighteningjof the cap screws 3'I. By a proper adjustment of the three rollers shown, the rotatable manifold may be brought into its intended position where it is concentric to the stationary manifold and where its ring gear meshes properly with Vthe driving spur gear 34. Y Y

By reason of the constructionherein described, both of the manifolds I3 and I3 are generally tubular in shape and of relatively small crosscsectional dimensions so that they'are readily-capable of withstanding extremely high pressures without resorting to unusually heavy construction. The manifolds are spaced from each-otherV include a large area of contacting surfaces with the attendant danger of excessive friction.

The machine of the present invention includes two diiferentrtypes of sealing means, one being of the glandrtype between relatively stationary ent'inve'ntion, thel flat ,contacting faces of the seal between the rotating partsarelubricated by water which is permitted to leak or flow from the supply ofwater under high pressure withinthe` manifolds and thus to pass in a quantity onlysuificient for lubricating purposes between the sealing surfaces. This isaccomplished by the structure illustrated in Figs. 3 andA 4 which includes a pair of' annular hardened plates 42 secured to the-opposite sides of the rotatable manifold I adjacent its inner edge, and at its` reduced portion 2 I. These plates may be secured in any suitablernanner or may be formed by. the deposition of hard metal by the electric welding. process, the exposed surface being groundflat after depositing of the metal.

Annular seal rings 43 are carried by non-rotatable ring blocks 44 for sealing contact with the plates 42, and the blocks 44 are mounted to oat or slide to and away from the plates 42 on the rotating manifold in order tc vary the sealing pressure at the contacting surfaces between the plates 42 and rings 45. The sealing rings may be constructed of any material capable of lubrication by water such as a composition known as ll/licarta or various water lubricated bronzes, and they may be secured to the ring blocks by screws, one of which is indicated at 45 injli'ig. 3. It is also desirable that the rings43 be embedded in a suitable plastic adhesive material. The space between eachiof the ring blocks 44 and the stationary manifold I3 is sealed as by packing 45 adapted to be compressed by packing glands 4l. For convenience in construction, the ring blocks 44 may be mounted in a slightly different manner, as is apparent in Fig. 8 of the drawings, where the ring block shown to the left overlies an integral flange 450i the mani-fold I3-Whilethe ringblock on the right overlies a flange 5I! secured to the manifold as by cap screws 5I. Set screws 52 are provided to bear against the glands 4'I on both sides, the set screws to the left being threaded through a flange 53 secured by cap screws 53' to the frame I2 and the set screws to the right being threaded through a flange 54 secured by cap screws 55 to the flange 50. The set screws 52 are accessible from the front and rear of the machine as illustrated in Figs. l and 2 and those which are disposed behind the brackets I5 are made accessible by the provision of suitable openings 55 formed in the brackets. With the set screws suitably adjusted, the packing 46 may be sufficiently compressed to prevent leakage between the ring blocks 44 and the stationary manifold I s and still permit floating movement or adjust-ment of the blocks 44 to vary the pressure between the sealing faces of the plates 42 and the rings 45. The pressure applied at these faces is critical as it is desired to permit the escape of sunicient water between these faces to insure adequate lubrication so that too much pressure will prevent lubrication while insufficient pressure will result in excessive leakage.

In order to obtain an extremely sensitive adjustment of pressure some form of fluid pressure means is disposed behind each of the ring blocks 6 44. For example, asshown in Fig.V 3, each ring; block 441 is backed by a. resilient annular tube which may be made of rubber or other similar material as: indicated at. 51.` The backs of the blocks 4411 are preferably concave toform a seat for the tubes 5T and the tubes are backed up by annular4 shells` 58, one of?V which bears against the rigidpart. 53V and the other against the part 54'.` Introduction of fluid` under pressure into the resilient tubes` 5l` therefore urges the ring blocks 44,` which carry thesealing rings 43, toward the plates 42. and the pressure applied `to the contactingA surfaces ofthe seal is subject to variation which dependsA upontheuamount of pressure introduced intothetubes 51;, Thus, as may be seen in Fig. 4; thewaterunderhigh pressure which tends to escape in the direction; of the arrow a between the stationary manifold TI3` and the rotating manifold IIE; exerts pressure in opposite directions on the several opposed surfaces of the stationaryv manifold, the rotating manifold and the ring block 44. Depending upon the balance of pressures on these surfaces; the water will. tend to escape tora greater'or lesser degree between theil'at contacting sealing surfaces.` The balance of vpressure should be sufficient to` permit an es` capeof Water in more than adequate quantities for lubrication so as positively to insure lubrication on. the contacting faces under all condi.- tions. I'o prevent the-escape of. a greatern quantity of water, the fluid` pressure within the tubes 51 may be adjusted` untillthe escapingwater is reduced to just sufficient to insure adequatelubrication.

Means-for introducing fluid under pressure into the tubes 5I isillustrated in Figs. 1, 2. and 5, wherein the tubes are shown as provided: with suitable inlet fittings Bilwhich are connected together by a branch pipe 6I which, as illustrated in Fig. 5, may pass through a groove 62 formed in` the stationary manifold I3. A supply pipe 63 also communicating with the branch pipe' yBI leadsto a source of fluid under pressure such, forexample, as a small pump and reservoir. not shown. Oil hasproven a satisfactory fluid for this `purpose although other nuidsv may be employed.

A- modiedtype seal is illustrated` in. Fig. 6` of the drawings wherein a single resilient tube l5l is employed for applying the necessary pressure to the two seals on opposite sides of the rotatable manifold. In this modification, the floating ring block 44 is omitted from one side of the manifold and replaced by a stationary block 65 secured directly to the manifold I3 as by cap screws 56. As the rotating manifold I5 is capable of slight movement from side to side, the single tube 51 will urge one of the seal rings 43 against the manifold and at the same time will urge the manifold itself against the opposite seal ring, thus producing the required pressure at all sealing surfaces.

In operation, water, under sufficient pressure to remove bark from the logs to be treated, is introduced through the inlet pipe I1 and passes from the stationary manifold I3 to the rotating manifold I5 and out through the nozzles Il) which direct it onto a log passing through the annular structure. The pressure required for barking logs is so great that the large annular seals 43 would prevent relative rotation of the manifolds unless they were adequately and continuously lubricated. Therefore, the fluid pressure introduced to the resilient tubes 51 is carefully regulated to the value where just a slight quantity of water, from Within the manifolds I3 and I6, is permitted t0 escape between the sealingl surfaces and in so ing radially disposed ports registering for the transmission of water to therotating manifold, and nozzles carried by the rotating manifold for directing the water against a log to be barked, means for sealing the space between the manifolds, including seal members carried by the stationary manifold and contacting opposite sides of the rotating manifold.

2. In combination with a hydraulic log barker comprising a stationary tubular annular manifold adapted to receive water under pressure, a similar larger manifold circumscribing and spaced from the first manifold, means 'supporting the larger manifold for rotation, both manifolds having radially disposed portsl registering for the transmission of water to the rotating manifold, and nozzles carried by the rotating manifold for directing the water against a log to be barked, means for sealing the space between themanifolds, including sealmembers carried by the stationary manifold and contacting opposite sides of the rotating manifold, and means for applying pressure to said seal members.

3. In a hydraulic log barker, an annular sta- Y tionary manifold for the reception of water under r high pressure, a similar rotatable manifold circumscribing the stationary manifold and carrying means for directing jets of water inwardly onto the surface of a log passing through the manifolds, means for transmitting water from-the sta-- tionary manifold to the rotating manifold, a seal between the manifolds comprising, a pair of annular blocks carried by the stationary manifold on opposite sides of the rotatable manifold, a seal between'each'of said blocks and the stationary manifold to prevent leakage therebetween and permit the blocks to be adjusted toward the rotating manifold, annular sealing rings carried oneby each of said blocks and bearing against the sides of the rotatable manifoldto form a seal therewith, and fluid pressure means acting against said annular blocks for varying the contact pressure at said last named seal.

4. In a hydraulic log barker, an annular stationary manifold for the reception of water under high pressure, a similar rotatable manifold coaxial with said stationary manifold and carrying means for directing jets of water inwardly onto the surface of a' log passing through the Vmanifolds, means for transmitting water from the stationary manifold to the rotating manifold, a seal between the manifolds comprising, a pair of annular blocks carried by the stationary manifold on opposite sides of the rotatable manifold, a seal between each of said blocks and the stationary manifold to prevent leakage therebetween and permit the blocks to be adjusted toward the rotating manifold, annular sealing rings carried one by each of said blocks and bearing against the sides of the rotatable manifold to form a seal therewith, and fluid pressure means acting against said annular blocks for Varying the contact pressure at said last named seal.

' FRANK H. SWIFT.

GUY R. DODSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 819,635 Callan May 1, 1906 V1,633,121 Minton June 2l, 1927 1,774,179 MacGregor Aug. 26, 1930 1,928,076 Rudolph Sept. 26, 1933 2,133,879 Thearle Oct. 18, 1938 `2,315,844 Ferrando et al Apr. 6, 1943 2,365,272 Hughes Dec. 19, 1944 2,382,839 Wuensch Aug. 14, 1945 v2,422,757 Swift June 24, 1947 Y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 35,574 K Sweden Oct. 1. 1913 

